Iowa football 2025 and what to expect this season

It’s that time of year again.

Closing in on the final Saturdays until Iowa football finally returns, it’s time to take a deeper look into what to expect from this year’s Hawkeyes. More specifically, it’s time to point out what fans need to know, or want to know, ahead of Week 1.

While some Iowa fans may have a decent idea of what this year’s Hawkeyes will look like, let’s take a step back and think of the bigger picture. There’s potential for plenty of milestones to be reached throughout the 12 weeks of college ball, sure, but what will the men in black and gold display at Kinnick Stadium come Aug. 30?

The Hawkeyes may not answer every question, but here are a few questions to ask as Iowa football’s media kicks off the 2025 season.

How will Mark Gronowski’s skillset as a quarterback help this offense?

South Dakota State transfer Mark Gronowski is an experienced collegiate signal caller. With two FCS national titles under his belt and a plethora of Jackrabbit program records, too, he’s got the face value to raise a few eyebrows.

He’s also a Maxwell Award preseason watch list member, and he hasn’t played a snap of Iowa football yet.

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This is someone who knows how to cultivate success on the field, too. He’s quick on his feet, and can get the ball through tight windows. Even while nursing a shoulder injury, Gronowski strung together more than 2,700 passing yards last season. He had surgery in the offseason and was cleared over the summer to start practicing again.

It’s understandable to hold the graduate transfer to a high standard — he’s got the track record for it. But he’ll be playing with a new offensive coordinator and a brand-new set of receivers. He’s been working with them since heading to Iowa City, but until Gronowski steps onto the field with the stadium lights shining, there’s still a question mark.

He comes highly regarded, and was one of the top transfers available when Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz scooped him up. And in July, he already was saying how comfortable he is with this new system. Sometimes FCS superstars make the best Power Five surprises, and may be Gronowski is one of those surprises this year.

Who’s going to step up on defense?

Jay Higgins is out. So just like when Cooper DeJean left, Iowa has to figure out who will be stepping into that defensive spotlight next.

So who will it be this season? Four starters left this offseason, which is enough to create quite a hole. The Hawkeyes consistently have a strong defensive core, so it won’t take long to see who that potential standout will be. Or maybe even standouts.

Iowa has eight All-Big Ten players returning across its entire roster this season, so the potential for someone to rise to the occasion is there. Ferentz said during Big Ten media days in Vegas he’s confident someone will step up to the plate, it’s just a matter of who and when they’ll do so.

How much will experience boost the offensive line?

Iowa has the potential to have one of the best offensive lines in the conference. With a brand-new quarterback in the pocket, that could be a huge boost for the Hawkeyes.

There’s Logan Jones and Gennings Dunker, both of whom are likely to be some of the best linemen in the country, along with Beau Stephens, who’s played significant snaps in black and gold.

Three of the five starting linemen have enough experience to create a stable wall around Gronowski for most of the season, and there’s still a battle for left tackle brewing throughout training camp.

Bottom line, this group will have experience. It’s a matter of meshing together, and who will be the one to protect QB1’s blindside heading into the season.

What about the rest of the offense?

Gronowski will take up most of the chatter for Iowa’s offense, which seems pretty straightforward. But there’s other elements of this team’s offense that are intriguing.

The Hawkeyes didn’t go all out in the transfer portal this offseason aside from the new signal caller, but Ferentz picked up a few potential weapons along the route — including Chattanooga’s Sam Phillips.

Phillips is one of eight potential wide receivers at Iowa’s disposal this year, and the group has sparked some positive energy in conversations with Ferentz throughout the summer and early preseason.

Iowa will have to be strategic with how it will replace Kaleb Johnson’s absence, but the Hawkeyes have options like Kamari Moulton. Gronowski can vacate the pocket if need be, too.

How far could Iowa go this season?

Yes, this is the question everyone’s asking right now. Where is the Hawkeyes’ ceiling? How far up the college football summit can Ferentz’s team really climb this season?

Four teams on the schedule sit within the USA Today Coaches Poll in the preseason top 25 — three of which are all Big Ten opponents. In fact, Iowa hosts all three of those teams (Oregon, Indiana and Penn State). And Iowa State takes that fourth ranked position, sitting at the lowest spot for a Hawkeye ranked foe at No. 21.

Then there’s the nonconference schedule. It’s not much to jump up and down for, but it should get Iowa two steps closer to another bowl game appearance. The season opener should give fans a look into what the Hawkeyes can do, and the UMass game two weeks later will do essentially the same thing.

Iowa received 49 votes in that preseason coaches poll, good enough for a de facto No. 33. Coaches have their eye on the Hawkeyes, but there’s still much to be discovered.

But that’s what preseason is for.

Comments: madison.hricik@thegazette.com